Management of castles in Poland in the early 21st century /

Abstract

This thesis represents a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of heritage management, using the example of castles in Poland. Heritage professionals have recently admitted to the inadequacy of the system of castle protection and management in Poland in the context of modern challenges and opportunities. This thesis investigates the feasibility of creating a new model of management of castles in Poland, built upon suitable economic premises. The hypothesis assumes that to realize the full potential of castles in Poland, the new model needs to encompass the conservation, social, and economic aspects of heritage management, and to treat heritage as a form of capital. The study is carried out in two stages. First, in order to design a new Castle Management Model, the thesis critically analyses, from an economic standpoint, current theory at the intersection of heritage, tourism and economics, and it reviews the institutional arrangements for heritage protection, conservation and management in Poland. Second, the thesis explores the viability of the theoretical premises and the practical applicability of the Model in the context of empirical data. The purposefully collected data-set consists of the first known extensive postal survey of over two hundred castles in Poland, and a series of recorded interviews with selected castle administrators. The critical appraisal of current theory at the intersection of heritage, tourism and economics indicates that built heritage represents socio-economic potential which has not yet been fully explored, but which requires that the conventional perspective on heritage values be replaced by a new, subjective approach. The original, theoretical contribution of this thesis lies in enhancing the concept of the ‘use value’ of heritage with new economic insights, and in exploring the importance of entrepreneurship in heritage management. The thesis also demonstrates coherence between commodification of heritage and its sustainable management, once heritage is treated as capital. The findings of the theoretical part of the thesis lead to the creation of a Castle Management Model. The subsequent exploration of this Model establishes its potential for implementation in Poland.